Folk wisdom and the NC Legislature

Published: Monday, April 15, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 12, 2013 at 3:51 p.m.

Life, whether defined at the personal or cosmic level, is fun, messy, complicated, full of challenges and often difficult to understand.

Over time, we've found ways to make sense of it all by distilling general truths into simple folk wisdom, in the form or sayings, clichés, metaphors and quotes handed down from the past. They are part of our culture, and we all understand what they mean.

I've been thinking recently about how to apply this folk wisdom to what's been unfolding in the current state legislative session in Raleigh.

In an example of ignoring the adage, “Don't kick someone when he's down,” Gov. Pat McCrory's second signed bill cut weekly unemployment benefits by a third, affecting about 400,000 jobless workers. The savings will be used to pay down North Carolina's federal debt faster than is being asked for. While laudable, I doubt it will matter much to those families missing $150 worth in food money each week. “Adding insult to injury,” the bill also rejected $700 million in federal funds that would have helped 170,000 people.

Some readers may think: “They're slackers and takers, so why should I support them?” Yes, a small number may be looking for a free ride, but most of these people are honest, hardworking souls holding several jobs, or are unemployed through no fault of their own and are desperate for work. I would ask you to consider this bit of wisdom: “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

Then there is “A rising sea lifts all boats.” For my purposes, the sea is a metaphor for an educated population, and the boats are the community. If the entire work force is better educated, the whole community benefits. And yet, proposed House Bill 218 would make it illegal for the children of immigrants here illegally to attend any state community college or full university (currently they can attend and pay out-of-state-tuition rates). This bill squarely targets these children — children who are here simply because their parents brought them.

If they are barred from getting an education, without the means to get a decent-paying job, what happens? As much as some might wish it otherwise, these young adults are not going anywhere — this is their home. With no chance to improve themselves, they will be relegated to a permanent under class, with a far greater negative economic impact than permitting them to attend school. A case of “Penny wise and pound foolish”?

But let's go a step further. These young adults may have younger siblings and eventually children of their own who will be citizens and eligible to vote. These politicians will be reminded, “What goes around, comes around.” It will just be a matter of time before the politicians pushing these bills discover this cosmic truth.

Gov. McCrory also signed a bill rejecting federal funds to expand the Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This action denies medical care for 500,000 of the state's poorest and most vulnerable citizens: children, poor seniors and the disabled. Under the ACA, the program would be fully funded for the next three years and would never be funded at less than 90 percent by the federal government.

Turning down this guaranteed funding for medical care for half a million people does not save any taxpayers' money — that federal money will just go to other states. As Mr. Spock, that great philosopher of the 23rd century, might say, “Captain, it is not logical.”

The governor's rationale was that those funds might not be there in the future. However, if Democrats retain control of the Senate and/or the White House, the money will be there. It is the GOP in Washington that continues to push for repealing or defunding the ACA.

What a delicious irony. The only way the ACA would ever be unfunded is if the GOP takes control of both houses of Congress and the White House.

So the governor and state GOP actually fear the possible success of their own party at the national level. With that, they would have to admit (to quote Pogo, that eminent sage from the comic pages), “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So what kind of picture are the N.C. Legislature's words painting for us? It's not a pretty one. These actions take aim at the hardest pressed and most challenged among us: those who work several jobs and struggle to put food on the table, those who are jobless, those with no health care, those here through no fault of their own — all those with no one to speak for them.

But wait. Once, a long time ago, someone did speak on their behalf.

“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

“He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' ”

<p>Life, whether defined at the personal or cosmic level, is fun, messy, complicated, full of challenges and often difficult to understand.</p><p>Over time, we've found ways to make sense of it all by distilling general truths into simple folk wisdom, in the form or sayings, clichés, metaphors and quotes handed down from the past. They are part of our culture, and we all understand what they mean.</p><p>I've been thinking recently about how to apply this folk wisdom to what's been unfolding in the current state legislative session in Raleigh.</p><p>In an example of ignoring the adage, “Don't kick someone when he's down,” Gov. Pat McCrory's second signed bill cut weekly unemployment benefits by a third, affecting about 400,000 jobless workers. The savings will be used to pay down North Carolina's federal debt faster than is being asked for. While laudable, I doubt it will matter much to those families missing $150 worth in food money each week. “Adding insult to injury,” the bill also rejected $700 million in federal funds that would have helped 170,000 people.</p><p>Some readers may think: “They're slackers and takers, so why should I support them?” Yes, a small number may be looking for a free ride, but most of these people are honest, hardworking souls holding several jobs, or are unemployed through no fault of their own and are desperate for work. I would ask you to consider this bit of wisdom: “There but for the grace of God, go I.”</p><p>Then there is “A rising sea lifts all boats.” For my purposes, the sea is a metaphor for an educated population, and the boats are the community. If the entire work force is better educated, the whole community benefits. And yet, proposed House Bill 218 would make it illegal for the children of immigrants here illegally to attend any state community college or full university (currently they can attend and pay out-of-state-tuition rates). This bill squarely targets these children — children who are here simply because their parents brought them.</p><p>If they are barred from getting an education, without the means to get a decent-paying job, what happens? As much as some might wish it otherwise, these young adults are not going anywhere — this is their home. With no chance to improve themselves, they will be relegated to a permanent under class, with a far greater negative economic impact than permitting them to attend school. A case of “Penny wise and pound foolish”?</p><p>But let's go a step further. These young adults may have younger siblings and eventually children of their own who will be citizens and eligible to vote. These politicians will be reminded, “What goes around, comes around.” It will just be a matter of time before the politicians pushing these bills discover this cosmic truth.</p><p>Gov. McCrory also signed a bill rejecting federal funds to expand the Medicaid portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This action denies medical care for 500,000 of the state's poorest and most vulnerable citizens: children, poor seniors and the disabled. Under the ACA, the program would be fully funded for the next three years and would never be funded at less than 90 percent by the federal government.</p><p>Turning down this guaranteed funding for medical care for half a million people does not save any taxpayers' money — that federal money will just go to other states. As Mr. Spock, that great philosopher of the 23rd century, might say, “Captain, it is not logical.”</p><p>The governor's rationale was that those funds might not be there in the future. However, if Democrats retain control of the Senate and/or the White House, the money will be there. It is the GOP in Washington that continues to push for repealing or defunding the ACA.</p><p>What a delicious irony. The only way the ACA would ever be unfunded is if the GOP takes control of both houses of Congress and the White House.</p><p>So the governor and state GOP actually fear the possible success of their own party at the national level. With that, they would have to admit (to quote Pogo, that eminent sage from the comic pages), “We have met the enemy and he is us.”</p><p>They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So what kind of picture are the N.C. Legislature's words painting for us? It's not a pretty one. These actions take aim at the hardest pressed and most challenged among us: those who work several jobs and struggle to put food on the table, those who are jobless, those with no health care, those here through no fault of their own — all those with no one to speak for them.</p><p>But wait. Once, a long time ago, someone did speak on their behalf.</p><p>“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'</p><p>“He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' ”</p>